There wasn’t a player on New Jersey who benefited from a coaching change more than Timo Meier. While playing under Lindy Ruff's tutelage, Meier was slotted on the left wing. Meier scored 24 goals in 80 games coached by Ruff. When Interim Coach Travis Green sold Meier a right wing spot he found home.
In 21 games under Green, Meier scored 15 times. This is where Meier spent most of his time when residing in San Jose. Meier established himself as one of the top-scoring right-wingers in the league, having three 30-goal seasons with the Sharks.
We expect Head Coach Sheldon Keefe to have taken notice that Meier should play on the right side with better results. For someone who felt Ruff did a lot of good for the Devils the misuse of Meier was definitely a blemish.
A late season surge saved Timo Meier's season
Meier was a force for the Devils over the final 23 games. The winger scored 17 times. After a two-goal February, Meier opened up March on a five-game goal-scoring streak. The power forward seemed to have found his touch.
The importance of this timeline is when he did it. Tyler Toffoli had been traded to the Sharks, Jack Hughes eventually left the lineup with a lingering injury. Meier proved that he could take the burden on offense if key players were unavailable. It’s arguable Meier was the best Devils player in the final month in a half of the season.
It will be crucial to get Meier going early this season. Last year, down the stretch, we saw he can score at an elite rate. Having Meier score consistently throughout the season is essential for a successful Devils season.
Expect Meier to score on a pace closer to his final 23 games as opposed to his first 46 in the upcoming season.
It’s no coincidence why Meier was number one on the Devils tradeboard during the 2023 NHL trade deadline. New Jersey has two centers that have both played at a 45+ assist pace over an 82-game season in the past two years. Being able to put Meier with either one of them is going to create favorable matchups for the Devils.
The plan to acquire Meier goes back to the 2022 World Championship Tournament. Nico Hischier and Meier found instant chemistry on team Switzerland. Both players were point-per-game players. With Meier on an expiring contract and the Devils in a hunt for the division, a deal just made too much sense.
There's little room to question if he can play with Jack Hughes. Hughes has produced with multiple wingers, from Janne Koukkanen to Jesper Bratt. Letting him create with a player of Meier's ability points toward success.
So who is he going to play with? Well, that’s Keefe's poison to pick.
Meier has scored double-digit goals on the power play in the past three seasons. He has been able to use the power play with contending and depleted team lineups.
This year's units should both be fed with talent. Whatever combinations the Devils decide to use, they should be among the top of the league in terms of power-play success. They have multiple 30-goal scorers, multiple point-per-game players, and two defensemen in Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes, whose talents can make a living off the power play alone.
When good things happen around good players, they only have more opportunities to thrive. Expect another multi-power-play goal season from Meier.